[He gave the man a look, then softened it with a hand on Jim's shoulder.]


I asked if he might wanna go on a date, see if there could be somethin there. Said he didn't do that, but friends with ah, benefits? Is that the way you say it? Friends that can be intimate was just fine. Which is sure somethin I'd like to do, but I'd lose my heart either way. So I just need to stay away till I work past it. Then I can at least have a drink with the guy now an then. He's . . . he's really nice Jim. It's not his fault he doesn't want deeper connections. I can understand not wantin that in this place.